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How to prepare a formula feed

When you feed your baby with formula milk you need to be careful to use it exactly as stated on the label, or it can have serious health consequences for your baby:

Health and safety

• Make sure you prepare formula exactly as stated on the label by adding the correct number of scoops to the water (i.e. add one scoop to every 28ml /1 fl oz) as formula that’s too weak can stunt your baby’s growth and lead to nutritional deficiencies. Formula that’s too strong can lead to dehydration or kidney problems.
• To avoid passing on any germs to your baby, always wash your hands before handling baby bottles or feeding your baby.
• For the same reason, you must always sterilise bottles and equipment and throw away any formula that’s left in a bottle after a feed.
• Check the expiration date on any formula you’ve had for a while and throw it away if it’s gone out of date.
• If you have any prepared formula which has been sitting for over one hour at room temperature, throw it away.
• If you are using a ready-made feed, refrigerate it immediately once the carton is opened, and use it within 24 hours.
• Don’t heat up formula in your microwave as the temperature of the liquid can become very uneven.

Preparing a bottle-feed

Making up feeds of infant formula

• Wash your hands, then wash and sterilise bottles and teats according to manufacturer’s instructions.
• Wipe all the surfaces in your kitchen you’re going to use.
• Fill the kettle with fresh tap water, not softened or filtered water, and bring to the boil.
• Leave the water to cool for about 30 minutes, then pour the required amount into a bottle.
• Add the required number of levelled off scoops to the water in the bottle.
• Next, screw the cap on the bottle and shake well to mix the powder with the water. If necessary, cool the feed under cold running water.
• Then test how warm the milk is by letting a few drops fall onto your wrist. If the temperature feels comfortable to you, it will be right for your baby.
• If there’s any feed left over once your baby has finished, throw it away, then wash and sterilise bottles and teats ready for the next feed.
• Never reheat the formula. If it becomes too cool this can cause germs to start growing.
• It’s also best practice to make up fresh feeds as required.

Ready-to-feed cartons

• You can buy ready-to-feed cartons in supermarkets and pharmacies.
• The cartons should be stored in a cool, dark place until you’re ready to use them.
• The formula inside the carton will have been heated to a very high temperature. This keeps it sterile until the pack is opened.
• However, once it’s opened it should be treated like fresh formula milk you’ve made – so throw away any leftovers. Once opened the carton must be refrigerated immediately and used within 24 hours.

Sterilisation

• It’s necessary to sterilise bottle-feeding equipment for at least your child’s first year. This is because your baby’s immune system is still immature and prone to infection.
• Although your baby will put other un-sterilised objects in her mouth, the germs that can grow in milk curds are particularly dangerous.
• Before sterilisation was the norm, thousands of infant deaths were caused by a lack of proper sterilising.
• At one year old your baby produces her own antibodies and is more resistant to harmful germs.
• But it’s still a good idea to carry on sterilising bottles, dummies and teats until your baby stops using them.

Clean the bottles and teats first

• Before you sterilise a bottle and teat it needs to be thoroughly cleaned to remove every trace of milk.
• You need to ensure that all the detergent has been washed off and that the teats are free of milk curds.
• It’s no longer recommended that you use salt to clean silicone teats, but this method still works well for latex ones.
• If while washing you find any teats or bottles with splits or cracks – throw them away, as damaged surfaces can harbour bacteria.
• You can clean your baby’s bottles in a dishwasher, but you need to use a hot programme of 80°C or more and then fill bottles with formula more or less as soon as they’re clean.

Steam sterilising

• You can buy steam sterilisers, which provide a quick and efficient sterilisation method.
• They take eight to twelve minutes to work, including cooling time.
• Only put in the pieces of equipment that are safe to boil.
• If you use a microwave steamer make sure you don’t place anything metallic inside it.
• Items inside will remain sterile for three hours if the lid is kept on.

Boiling

• You can use a pan of boiling water to sterilise equipment.
• Boil for at least 10 minutes, and only use the pan for sterilisation purposes.

Microwavable bottles

• There are bottles which can be sterilised in the microwave on their own.
• It only takes 90 seconds to sterilise a single bottle.

Cold water sterilising

• You can buy sterlising units that use cold water and a non-toxic sterilising solution.
• Equipment will be sterile after half an hour, and can safely be left in the solution for up to 24 hours.
• Change the solution daily and wash your hands before removing sterilised items.
• Fill the bottle with milk immediately.

Feeding techniques

• Your baby will need your care and attention in order to be able to bottle-feed correctly.
• If you hear a lot of noisy sucking noises your baby may be taking in too much air.
• To help her swallow less, hold her at a 45-degree angle and tilt the bottle so that the teat and neck are always full of formula. Encourage this upright positioning both during and after her milk feeds.
• Never leave your baby to feed unattended by propping the bottle up. This is a serious choking risk for your baby.